Dr. Connie Frigo is an arts leader, professor, international soloist and chamber musician, speaker, founder of numerous festivals, and most recently spent 12 years as an applied professor of music (saxophone), and a community engagement arts research fellow, at the University of Georgia. She is a sought-after presenter on topics relating to professional development, curiosity and creativity, and is a steadfast organizer of interdisciplinary collaborations that utilize the creative process and cultural humility to build sustainable relationships that strengthen the fabric of a community.  

Highlights of Connie’s international career include six years with the premiere U.S. Navy Band, Washington, D.C., a national position she won as a junior in college; seven years touring nationally as the baritone saxophonist with the New Century Saxophone Quartet; and faculty positions at the Universities of Georgia, Tennessee, Maryland and Ithaca College. She is a Fulbright Scholar to the Netherlands. In recent years, she has traveled to Brazil, Italy, Russia and Panama to perform and teach.  

Connie is the co-founder and former director of the Athens Hip Hop Harmonic, a collaboration between the local hip hop community and the University of Georgia School of Music that paired nine hip hop artists and university composers to co-create new genre-bending music; involved five ensembles (over 140 students) advised by faculty and staff; performed four free public shows reaching over 1200 community members; produced and published eight recording sessions and videos; developed and launched a public website; produced community panel discussions; and presented at the a2ru and College Band Directors National Association national conferences.  

The mission and values of JMU X-Labs align significantly with Connie’s belief and experience in the transformative powers of transdisciplinary collaborations to solve real world problems and strengthen relationships across a university, industries and the local community. She is thrilled to have joined the JMU community in this role and looks forward to discovering all that JMU X-Labs can offer and contribute to the university’s learning and research environment.